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Osteoporosis is a disorder in which bones gradually become thinner and weaker until they can break easily. Most commonly, people with advanced osteoporosis will have fractures of the hip, spine or wrist.
How often have you heard of an elderly woman who "fell and broke her hip?" It's possible that her fall caused her weakened hip to break. But it's also possible that the bone in her hip was so fragile that an ordinary movement made it break, which then caused the woman to fall.
The risk of osteoporosis increases with age. Because of decreasing hormone levels after menopause, about 80 percent of people with osteoporosis are women. However, osteoporosis can afflict people at any age, and some men also develop osteoporosis. Osteoporosis has no obvious symptoms. Years may go by with the bone becoming weaker and weaker until finally a fracture occurs.
Hip fractures can lead to the loss of mobility and independence in the elderly. Vertebral fractures may lead to the loss of height and the formation of a permanent curvature of the spine, known as a "dowager's hump." This condition results in a hunched appearance, limits movement, forces the abdomen to protrude, may cause respiratory problems and can make digestion more troublesome.
The best ways to avoid the consequences of osteoporosis is to prevent bone loss before it becomes advanced and to understand the risk factors for osteoporosis.
About 10 million Americans suffer from osteoporosis. Another 34 million are thought to have low bone mass, putting them at increased risk for the disease. A woman's risk of fracturing her hip is the same as her risks for breast cancer, uterine cancer and ovarian cancer combined. Nearly 25 percent of people ages 50 and over who suffer a hip fracture die in the following year. One in five hip fracture patients require ongoing nursing home care after the injury.
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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